Photo By Matthew Manning | Tony Rodriguez talks to Marines, sailors and their families during an emergency...... read more read more
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CAMP KINSER, Okinawa - An emergency preparedness workshop hosted by Combat Logistics Regiment 37 took place May 7 at the chapel on Camp Kinser. The workshop’s topic focused on various emergencies that Marines, sailors and family members need to be prepared for while living on Okinawa.
The workshop was targeted to the families stationed on Camp Kinser, and it raised awareness of different types of potential emergencies encountered on Okinawa, according to Maralyn I. O’Brien, a family readiness officer with CLR-37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
“There are a lot of things people don’t think about when moving to Okinawa from different places in the states, such as tropical threats and just general preparedness with living in the Pacific,” said O’Brien, a Canton, Mich., native. “We want to make sure people know what to do as we are coming up on typhoon season, or if there is an earthquake. We also want them to know about the civilian evacuation plan that is in place should something happen.”
The most important part of the workshop was getting the participants in the right mindset to prepare for emergencies, according to Tony Rodriguez, a life skills trainer with Marine Corps Family Team Building, Marine Corps Community Services.
“Many times we get in the ‘it will never happen to me’ mindset, and that is one of the worst things we could do,” said Rodriguez, a Detroit, Mich., native. “We need to be thinking of more than just typhoons. We need to be thinking of a little bit of everything and be prepared for anything. We never know when we might get in a car accident, come across a poisonous snake or spider, or when an earthquake will hit.”
During the workshop, the Marines, sailors and family members created lists of different types of emergencies and then used the list to discuss what items would be important to have in a disaster kit.
“Initially, I thought this class was going to teach how to be prepared for a typhoon, but instead it really taught us how to think outside the box for any emergency, natural or manmade,” said Capt. Bruce H. Byrd, a logistics officer with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. “For those who have been around for a typhoon on Okinawa before, they know to stock up on food, water and batteries, but this class really stressed the importance of securing your important documents or having all the phone numbers you might need to call written down somewhere. It was really a challenge to think of any type of emergency that could happen and come up with a plan for if it does.”
There are already emergency plans set in place and evacuation routes planned out that everyone needs to be aware of, according to O’Brien.
“For Marines and sailors, contact your chain of command to find out their emergency plan,” said O’Brien. “Parents need to know what the school system’s emergency plan is. If you are not already familiar with what you should do in the event of an emergency, be sure to ask so that you do not find yourself unprepared.”
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2014 06:45 |
| Story ID: | 131596 |
| Location: | CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Hometown: | CANTON, MICHIGAN, US |
| Hometown: | DETROIT, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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